Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective December 12, 2017. Service connection for COPD is granted. The left knee disability evaluation is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and right knee disability manifested by pain, both secondary to service-connected left knee chondromalacia. The decision is based on a finding that there is approximately even evidence supporting the Veteran's claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for various conditions due to incorrect forms being used in the appeal process.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for throat cancer, skin condition, right knee, and left knee due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered with a focus on obtaining medical records and opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to various disabilities, including tinnitus, shoulder and knee conditions, vertigo, migraines, GERD, ED, and hearing loss. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for several disabilities that are secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's September 2019 VA Form 9 was timely filed in response to the September 2017 Statement of the Case, and thus grants the appeal.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals regarding initial compensable rating for tinea versicolor posterior of the neck and service connection for tinea versicolor of the chest, right knee, left knee, and back disabilities prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a gastrointestinal disorder and left knee disability due to incomplete examinations. The AOJ must schedule new examinations and readjudicate the cases.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and a low back condition, finding that there is no current disability within the meaning of VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's right hip osteoarthritis is not rated higher than 10% based on limitation of flexion, and the left knee strain is not rated higher than 10%. The hypertension remains at a noncompensable rating.,The Board has remanded the case for further review due to new evidence received after the initial decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for anxiety, depression, anger, and both left and right knee arthroscopy has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his representative.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a left sciatic nerve condition is denied due to lack of evidence of current disability and no medical nexus found.,Service connection for headaches is remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding causation or aggravation by medication.,Service connection for allergy conditions is remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding onset in service or relation to service.,Service connection for a left knee condition is remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding proximate cause and/or aggravation by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection, as it is presumed to be related to military noise exposure during service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic fatigue syndrome is denied due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were present or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of left knee osteoarthritis has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The appeal of the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is dismissed as it was not validly opted-in to the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system and remains pending in the Legacy system.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to incomplete evidence, including VA treatment records not being associated with his file. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and provide a new VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as gastrointestinal tract disability (to include hemorrhoids and/or fissures).,Service connection is also granted for lumbosacral strain and initial evaluation of left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and degenerative changes of the left ankle have been denied. The current ratings are considered appropriate based on the evidence provided.